HAKI R. MADHUBUTIS 75 YEAR LEGACY CONTINUES

3/8/2017, noon | Updated on 3/8/2017, noon

Haki R. Madhubuti is an award-winning writer, professor and community advocate who has published over 31 books. Madhubuti discussed the state of the youth in the Black community and how his schools: Third World Press (1967), The Institute of Positive Education/New Concept School (1969), Betty Shabazz International Charter School (1998), Barbara A. Sizemore Middle School (2005) and DuSable Leadership Academy (2005), help combat anti-black ideas and influences. Photo Courtesy of Third World Press

then there is no destiny.

“We’ve been essential about not only finding our names and giving our children names that represent their African heritage and ancestry, but at the same time, remaking and remodeling what our children should learn in a higher technology, scientific and educational base economy and culture,” said Madhubuti.

He acknowledged that it’s a tall task trying to help youth in the Black community and that he and his group do not have “the answer,” but they have “an answer.” So, they will continue to show Black people that they can own more than just

liquor stores and churches in the community.

“Any people who are in control of their own culture, political, economic and social imperatives are about the healthy reproclamation of themselves,” he said, adding, the problems Black people are facing in the Black community aren’t problems that Irish, Italians or even Polish communities are facing, primarily because white supremacy and white nationalists run this, “bad boy,” he said.

“All too often, our young people don’t recognize that early enough,” he added. “They are not reading the proper material

that elevates and enlightens them about their own history, culture and place in the world because they are reading material that’s anti-Black in many ways.”

He said Third World Press Foundation,

however, publishes material and associates with men and women who have ideas because ideas and the creators of ideas run the world and we all tap dance to someone’s ideas, he said.

“The question is who idea is we tap-dancing to,” [sic] Madhubuti asked? “Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Democrats, Republicans? I mean whose ideas are we really dancing to? So, for us we’re wise, strong, sharp and smart enough to understand that essentially, if we’re going to live and survive we have to create our own at every level